An ongoing dialogue on HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases,
October 12th, 2021
A Few Thoughts on “Attending” Virtual Meetings
Once upon a time, long, long ago, before SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, many of us in academic medicine attended in-person scientific meetings that took place annually around the world. I was one such person — usually 2-3 times a year. My primary charge at each of these meetings was to assemble the best, or most interesting, […]
May 6th, 2018
Looking Back on a Decade of Blogging About HIV and Infectious Diseases
Last week, Dr. Wendy Armstrong from Emory kindly invited me to spend some time with their smart, energetic ID fellows. (See if you can pick me out of the group in the photo at right — hint, I’m the old guy on the left.) Before the trip, Wendy asked them whether they’d rather hear me […]
March 10th, 2014
CROI Is Over — and a Baby Once Again Takes Center Stage
One of our fellows asked me this AM when I was posting a RRR (Really Rapid Review™) of CROI 2014, and my response was to clear my throat, make some vague excuses, and curse the respiratory viruses that seem as perpetual as the cold weather this year. It’s in the works, promise — but in […]
September 20th, 2013
CROI Abstract Submissions Now Open, and Old CROI Website Still “Lost” in Cyberspace
HIV researchers can now submit their abstracts to the 2014 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections — or “CROI”. (It rhymes with “soy”, as in “soy sauce”; or, if you prefer, “oy”, as in “oy vey”.) Further details here. General submission for abstracts closes on October 8. Meanwhile, people continue to wonder what happened to the now […]
April 9th, 2011
And Now, for a More Comprehensive CROI Report …
Although I’ve already provided a Really Rapid Review™ of the 18th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), the editors of Journal Watch/AIDS Clinical Care have put together a more comprehensive summary here. I sometimes wonder what research from these conferences will not only stand the test of time, but will grow in importance and […]
July 17th, 2025
Ceftriaxone Is a Narrow Antibiotic Now — and Other Musings
In no particular order, 20 things I’ve found interesting lately — a mix of ID (mostly), language quirks, clinical stuff, even tennis, and an apology (#21) at the very end. Bonus videos embedded because we all need a break. 1. Isn’t it amazing how, over time, an antibiotic once considered “broad spectrum” later becomes the […]
November 27th, 2024
Some ID Things to Be Grateful for This Holiday Season — 2024 Edition
The calendar says it’s nearly the fourth Thursday of November, so here in the United States, the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us. It’s a day when we gather with family and friends to express thanks, to eat plenty (usually too much), to watch a bunch of spectacular athletes bash themselves to smithereens in the name […]
August 18th, 2023
My Vote for the Weirdest Antibiotic on the Planet
If you’re an ID doctor, there’s an excellent chance you’ve treated patients who have non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) with clofazimine. In fact, based on a poll done with the utmost scientific rigor, it’s well more than half of you. And if you’re not an ID doctor, there’s a decent chance you’ve never even heard of it […]
October 25th, 2020
(Not) Attending Professional Meetings in the COVID-19 Era
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), our professional society, held its annual meeting this week, IDWeek. As usual, I registered for and attended the meeting. Of course I should have written “attended” the meeting, as instead of having an in-person meeting in Philadelphia (the original planned venue), it was entirely done online. Another “virtual” […]
March 24th, 2019
Tetanus Case, No More MAC Prophylaxis, Playing in Dirt, and Low-Level Viremia — A National Puppy Day ID Link-O-Rama
In honor of spring (March 20), and the very important National Puppy Day (March 23), here are a bunch of ID and HIV-related recent items for consideration, contemplation, and perusal: A life-threatening case of tetanus in an unvaccinated boy highlights the personal and financial cost of the anti-vaccine movement. How deeply embedded are these false beliefs? […]
Paul E. Sax, MD
Associate Editor
NEJM Clinician
Biography | Disclosures & Summaries
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FROM NEJM — Recent Infectious Disease Articles- Clusters of Concern — Spatial Link between Childhood Undervaccination and Measles Outbreaks in South Carolina May 20, 2026Spatial analysis in South Carolina revealed that measles infections were clustered in areas where public school vaccination rates were lower.
- Andes Hantavirus Outbreak on a Cruise Ship, 2026 May 20, 2026On May 2, hantavirus infection was diagnosed in a patient who had been on a cruise ship. Subsequent evaluation revealed multiple cases of Andes hantavirus infection on the ship. To date, three associated deaths have occurred.
- Childhood Vaccine Hesitancy May 20, 2026Vaccine hesitancy is often driven by safety concerns. Clinician recommendations, presumptive communication, and empathy improve uptake; maintaining trust supports future acceptance and community protection.
- Cerebral Syphilitic Gumma May 14, 2026A 50-year-old man presented to the ED with a 1-month history of headache and worsening weakness of the left arm and leg. Brain MRI showed an enhancing lesion with extensive surrounding edema.
- Ensitrelvir for Covid-19 Postexposure Prophylaxis in Household Contacts May 14, 2026In a trial, the 3C-like protease inhibitor ensitrelvir was more effective than placebo in preventing Covid-19 in household contacts of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Clusters of Concern — Spatial Link between Childhood Undervaccination and Measles Outbreaks in South Carolina May 20, 2026